A farewell parade for his excellency saw the handing over of the governor’s sword to speaker of the house Keith Biles for safe-keeping until the Governor Designate is sworn in later this year. His excellency also inspected the FIDF and members of the armed forces from Mount Pleasant for a final time, and observed a 17-gun salute in his honour.

His Excellency the Governor Nigel Phillips has been governor of the Falkland Islands, and Commissioner of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands for the past five years. Before his posting here in the Falklands, His Excellency rose to the rank of Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force before working in diplomatic positions for the British Embassy and Ministry of Defence. Ms Alison Blake CMG will take over as the first ever female governor later this year.